Given everything he has been through, the 3-under-par 69 Lloyd shot Monday to lead U.S. Open local qualifying at Spartan Meadows Golf Club in Elgin was sweet indeed.

Lloyd, fingers firmly crossed, also took it as a sign.

"I'd like to think I'm back," said Lloyd, one of only three players to break par in the windy, humid conditions.

Lloyd is back in many ways. Emotionally, he's back from a recent divorce. Physically, he's back from the wrist injuries that slowed his career for four years in the late 1980s and early '90s.

Thanks to modern aviation, he's back from the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Japan, where he has played the Asian Tour since 1987 with limited success.

Finally, he is back in his hometown (he was born in Highland Park) before heading to the next stop on his itinerary--the Canadian PGA Tour.

"I got remarried in August," said Lloyd. "Her name's Kelly. Without her support I probably would have quit this game last year. But she has kept me going."

Lloyd's career has taken him to more backwaters than mountaintops. He has been to U.S. Open local qualifying eight times and to the sectional six times. But he has never made the Open. Six times, he has fallen short at the PGA Tour Qualifying School. In 1990, he missed making it to the finals by a shot. In 1991, he earned his only victory--at the Hooters Tour (then the Jordan Tour) stop in Georgia.

Lloyd heads for Canada in two weeks--right after the June 2 sectional qualifier just outside Seattle.

Six other players survived the first step on the road to the June 12-15 U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club. Canadian Tour player Craig Marseilles of Maple, Ontario, and amateur Bud Brownsberger of Galena shot 1-under 71s. Qualifying with 72s were pros Jim Buenzli of McHenry, Robert Jan of Northbrook and Terry Govern of Evanston and amateur Tom Copeland of Glenview.

Nike Tour player Mark Hensby of Elgin shot 74 and failed to advance.

Lisle's Bill Rosinia and Oswego's Bryan Luedtke shared honors in local qualifying at Blackberry Oaks in Bristol, Ill., with 1-under 71s. Hinsdale's Chip Travis earned the third and final sectional berth when he ousted Aurora's Tom Sipula on the first playoff hole after both had shot 72. Chicago area sectional qualifying is June 2 at Bull Valley in Woodstock.